Methods and apparatus for severing and rebeveling a metal tile



July 17, 1956 'r. F. GUNDLACH METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SEVERING AND REBEVELING A METAL TILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1952 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR.

THEODORE F. Gun 01. AC H July 17, 1956 'r. F. GUNDLACH 2,754,906

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SEVERING AND REBEVELING A METAL TILE Filed Dec. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 30 FIG. 5. a2 k a 3? 4x 3/ 8 1 INVENTOR. THEODORE E GUNOLACH United States Patent 6 METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SEVERING AND REBEVELING A METAL TILE Theodore F. Guudlach, Belleville, Ill., assignor to J. M. .l. Industries, Inc., Belleville, IlL, a corporation of Illinois Application December 3, 1952, Serial No. 323,857

11 Claims. (Cl. 164-17) This invention relates to improvements in title cutting methods and apparatus, and more particularly to improved means and methods for providing upon severance of a tile unit, a beveled edge having sharply defined corner regions.

There have been accepted as inevitable, certain undesirable irregularities in the tile margins resulting from severance by former tile-cutting devices, and more specifically flared or otherwise mutilated corner regions immediately adjacent the newly formed edge. This serious difficulty is present even in devices which include a bevelforming element having beveled margins upon which the tile being cut may be applied and shaped during severance. It is important to note that there has not heretofore been commercially available any metal tile processing device of portable character for use on the job or in the field, which will sever the tile and form a margin along the severed edge without mutilation or destruction of finish, and such that the newly formed bevel or like margin and the corners, Will match the original corners and margins without discernible distinction. It should be borne in mindthat such a device to be commercially successfully, mustbe equally applicable to all prevalent makes of metal tile, and to all types of metal tile, such as field tile, ceiling tile, chair rail and other recognized forms. Similarly, a successful device for the purpose must accomplish its ends without mutilation, abrasion or other destruction of baked-on enamel or'other surfacing of the metal, in either the newly formed marginal or corner regions. It is accordingly a major objective of the present improvements to solve the above problem, and to realize a tile-cutting and bevelforming assembly which will sever the tile-and simultaneously impart a bevel to the resulting margin, and further provide symmetrical, sharply defined corner regions between the new edge and the adjacent lateral tile margins, whereby to result in a redimensioned tile unit having all margins perfectly matching. and uninarred in any manner.

Another important objective is realized in an improved tile-retaining and positioning assembly which includes a bevel-forming pad'element disposed onthe base and slidably related to a bar member, the bar member andpad element being adapted'to apply a compressive force tozthe lateral tile margins of the work piece, thus assuring regularly-shaped beveled corners.

Further objective features of the presentv improvements include. a bevel-forming pad element of certain specified and determinable dimensions arranged on-the'base of the cutter in spaced relation-to a reference margin or stationmy blade edge. The pad elementsupports'land locates the clined to the vertical, assuming of course a. horizontally 2,754,906 P atented July 17,

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disposed base. Upon downward movement, the cutting blade operatively engages the tile at an oblique angle, and simultaneously severs and forms a new beveled edge. Further, the movable blade exerts an edgewise compressive force to the newlyformed margin in certain positions of a bar member and an upstanding flange provided on the pad element, the cutting blade compressing the lateral margins of the tile adjacent the reference margin, respectively against the bar member and the flange to provide symmetrical, regularly defined corner regions on the resulting edge.

Further objects and advantages include the provision of bevel-forming pad elements for use in a tile-cutting device, and which maybe selected according to the differing dimensions and forms of tile being cut, the pad element providing a body, a flange adapted to retain and apply a compressive force to a lateral tile margin, and depending projections on the body adapted to serve as guide elements in slidably relating the pad element to the base of the cutter assembly.

Yet another valuable object of the present improvement is realized in an improved'method of cutting and re-shaping tile, which consists in supporting and arranging certain portions of the tile with respect to a reference margin, applying a compressive force to lateral tile margins, and cutting a new edge on the tile by moving a cutting blade past the reference margin in an oblique plane, thusproviding a beveled tile margin having sharply defined corners.

The objects above. expressed and others implied from the description to follow will become more readily apparent from the. following detailed'description of a single preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. l is a perspective view ofthe-tile-cutting andibev-elforming assembly;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofa pad element-adapted for making square cuts;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blade key element;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary. top plan view of the device assembled'for making square cuts;

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section as taken along line 55"of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a crosssectionalview as taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5', showing a tile in' position=before cutting;

Fig. 7 is a view in cross section as taken along line'6 6 of Fig. 5, showing a tile in positionafter the blade has cut a new-edge;

Fig. 8 is a: cross sectional view as taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview of arpad element. adapted for making diagonal cuts;

Fig. l0-is a fragmentary top planview of the device assembled for-making diagonalcuts;

Fig. 11 is a view in cross section as taken along line 1111 of'Fig. 1.0, and

Fig. l2.is a view in crosssection. as taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 10.

Referring. now. by characters-of reference to the draw ing s, and first toFig. L,.the tile-cuttingsand.bevel-forming deviceis shown to include a baseor. work+supporting member. 10. having. laterally. projecting flanges 111 at its forward end portion, andanintegral depending leg 12 formed medially of the rear marginof the. base:. T heflanges 11 and leg 12 supportthe base 1t)v on any subjacent surface suchas av bench or. floor. Pivotally connected-to a front guide bar 13 is a handle 14 which is pivotally secured to atop arm.15.- Top arm 15 is-bifurcated at the lefthand endportion. 16 to slidably receive. guide bar 13, and is pivotallyconnected at. the. oppositeendportion. 1=7 tohase 10. Further an opening 2Q is provided midway of. the top arm 15, adaptingthearmlo serve.:as a-grippingthandle that may be used conveniently to carry or move the device from one location to another. A plurality of screws 21 securely attach a movable cutting blade 22 to the lowermost portion of the top arm 15.

As a base-carried member, a stationary blade 23 is secured by screws 24 to a recessed forward base portion 25, the upper surface of blade 23 lying substantially level with the surface of the base 10, thus providing the base with a straight, elongate reference margin 26. It should be noted that the movable cutting blade 22 is adapted, through connections with the handle 14, guide bar 13, top arm 15 and base 10 to move past the reference margin or lower blade edge 26 in a plane inclined at an angle to the vertical, assuming the base 10 to be disposed horizontally, as best shown in each of Figs. 6, 7 and 8. It is further noted as a preference that the path of travel of the movable blade 22 be in an oblique plane disposed approximately of the order of to 20 degrees from the vertical.

Figs. 4 and 5 show that the stationary blade is provided with a linear, elongate groove or channel 27 arranged parallel to and spaced from the reference margin 26. Slidably disposed in groove 27 is a bevel-forming pad element generally indicated at 30 and clearly shown by Fig. 2, the particular pad element 30 being adapted for making square cuts. Pad element 30 consists of a flat elongate body 31 of a length slightly less than the width of the tile, an upstanding flange 32 located near but spaced from one end of body 31, and an integral downturned projection or ear 33 depending from the opposite end portion of the body and providing a small opening 34 therethrough. The flange 32 is connected to the body 31 by an arm or projection 35 that may be formed as an integral part of body 31 and flange 32. Arm 35 positions flange 32 so that its lowermost margin lies in the same plane as the lower surface of the body 31, and so that flange 32 is spaced from the end of the body 31 a distance corresponding substantially to the width of the bevel formed on the tile being cut. Obviously, a plurality of pad elements 30 are usually provided, and each is selected according to the dimensions and form of the tile to be cut.

In position, the depending projections 33 and 35 of pad element 30 are slidably received in groove 27, and are adapted to serve as guide elements upon sliding actuation of the pad element, the width of the guide elements being such as substantially to bridge groove 27. The body portion 31 of pad 30 normally lies contiguous with stationary blade 23 and in overlying relation with groove 27, and is of a thickness substantially corresponding to the depth of the bevel desired on a newly cut edge. A forward margin 36 of body 31 is disposed in parallel, spaced relation to reference margin 26, the spacing between the reference margin 26 and body margin 36 being substantially equal to the width of the bevel. In addition, flange 32 extends forwardly of the body margin 36 to the reference margin 26, and normally abuts a lateral margin of the tile.

An elongate bar member 37 is detachably secured by a pair of thumb screws 40 to the base 10, and is positioned as shown in Fig. 4 for making a square cut with an inner margin 41 of the bar abutting the opposite lateral margin of the tile and extending forwardly to the reference margin 26. Bar member 37 is provided with a circular opening 42 in each end portion, one of the openings 42 normally overlying the groove 27 when the bar is disposed in position on base 10. A graduated scale may be formed or separately attached on the top of the bar member, the scale indicia indicating the distance from the reference margin 26, thus facilitating accurate measurement of the tile while in position on the base prior to any cutting operation.

Slidably disposed in groove 27 is a key element 43 (Fig. 3) which provides upstanding end projections 44 and an intermediate projection 45. For reasons later discussed, the projections 44 and 45 are asymmetrically related, i. e., the distances from the intermediate projection 45 to each end projection 44 are unequal. From Figs. 4 and 5, it is seen that one end projection 44 operatively engages projection or car 33 of the pad element 30 and is received in the body opening 34, While the intermediate projec tion extends upwardly through the opening 42 in the bar member 37.

A lever 46 is pivotally connected to bar member 37 at a point rearwardly of the bar opening 42. One end of lever 46 is bifurcated to operatively receive and engage the key projection 45 extending through the bar opening, and the opposite end of lever 46 is formed to provide an actuating finger piece 47. The bar opening 42 is of suflicient diameter to enable the key projection 45 to be freely moved therein, thus realizing a range of slidable movement of key element 43 and hence pad element 30. Pivotal counterclockwise movement of lever 46 (Fig. 4) slidably moves pad element 30 toward the bar member 37 the flange 32 and bar member margin 41 being brought to abutting relation to the lateral margins of the tile, and normally results in flange 32 and bar member margin 41 exerting an edge-to-edge compressive force to the lateral tile margins in a direction perpendicular to the tile margins. As the blade 22 is impelled downwardly and cuts a new edge, sharply defined beveled corner regions are realized.

Overlying the opposite opening 42 in bar member 37 is a flat key-positioning or adjusting element 50 secured as by screw 51 to the bar member 37. Element 50 provides a camming edge or shoulder 52 that operatively en gages the intermediate projection 45 of the key element 43, when the bar member 37 is reversed and angularly arranged on base 10 to adapt the device for diagonal tile cuts, as shown in Fig. 10. The key element 43 is also arranged in a reversed position from that shown in Fig. 4, and has the other end projection 44 engaging the depending projection 53 and opening 54 of a similarly constructed pad element, generally indicated at 55 (Fig. 9).

Of necessity, pad element 55 of Figs. 9 and 10 is of a slightly different construction, but performs essentially the same function as pad element 30 of Figs. 2 and 4. Obviously, there may be provided a wide assortment of pad elements 55 for making diagonal cuts in the same general manner previously discussed in connection with pad element 30 for square cuts. Similarly, the length of the body 56 depends upon the size of tile, and the thickness depends upon the depth of the bevel desired. From Fig. 10, it is seen that body 56 of pad element 55 provides rearwardly convergent end margins 57 that lie parallel to but spaced from the marginal portions of the tile a distance approximatting the width of the bevel. An angularly disposed end flange 60 is adapted to abut a lateral margin of the tile close to the reference margin 26, the flange 60 being spaced from the end of body 56 a distance corresponding to the bevel width. Dependingly from body 56 is a carried projection 61 connecting the flange 60 and body 56. The projections 53 and 61 are slidably received by and bridge groove 27. Furthermore, the forward margin 62 of pad element 55 is disposed with respect to the reference margin 27 in conformity with the requirements noted above as pertaining to square cuts, or otherwise expressed, is spaced from reference margin 26 a distance substantially equal to the width of the bevel.

The bar member 37 is further provided with an elongate obtusely formed shoulder 63 along the lowermost portion of the margiin adjacent the angularly disposed tile piece. Shoulder 63 abuts the marginal downturned portion of the tile, particularly in the region close to the reference margin 26. As the blade 22 is angularly moved past reference margin 26, the blade cuts a new beveled edge and simultaneously imparts an inward compressive force perpendicular to the edge, thus tending to urge the lateral tile margins, respectively, against shoulder 63 and flange 60. During the cutting operation, the newly formed diagonal edge and the lateral tile margins adjacent the reference margin .26 are retained in position under edgewise compression, and thus provide regularly formed corner regions.

The operation of the tile-cutting beveling device is thought to have become apparent from the foregoing detailed description; however, in the interests of completeness of .disclosure, it will be noted that in making a square cut, represented in Fig. '4, the proper bevel-forming ,pad element 3 6 is selected according to the size of the tile and its bevel, and is locatedin groove 27. It is here notedas preferable ,to provide suitable indicia on each pad element, to designate its applicability to the make, nature of ,tile ,and whether for straight or diagonal cuts. Key element 43 is disposed in groove 27 and engages projection 33 .of the .pad element 3,6. The bar member 37 is securedto the base 10 perpendicular to the reference margin 26 such ,that lever 46 operatively engages intermediate key projection 45. The tile is then placed between the bar member 37 and flange 32 with the tile portion to be severedextendediover.the reference margin orzstationary blade edge 2.6. Lever 46 is manually actu ated .to move thepad element30 toward the bar member 37, so as edgewise to compress the lateral tile margins between the bar margin 41 and flange 32. Upon lowering the movable cutting blade 22 past the reference margin 26, va newly beveled edge is formed having regularly defined corner regions.

Incutting a diagonal, ,apadelement S is selected in view of the considerations noted above, and placed in position .in-the groove 27. However, ,bar member 37 is reversed and angularly ,locatedon thebase by screws 40, as shown in Fig. 10. Furthermore, key element 43 is also reversed such that the opposite end projection 44 engages the pad-element 55, and the intermediate projection 45 engages .the ,camming-shoulder 52 of key-adjusting element '50. A slight adjustment of element 5t) to the right (Fig. 10) will permit a cut :past the diagonal, While an adjustment to the left will allow a cut short of the diagonal. In either .cutting operation, viz., for a square or diagonal cut, a new beveled edge is realized which has sharply defined,.r egular-corner regions.

Although the improvements have been described by making particularized reference to a preferred embodiment and method, the detail of description is to be understood as instructive rather than restrictive, numerous variants being possible within the principles disclosed and within the-fair scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim asmy invention:

1. In a device adapted for the cutting and re-forming of .tile havingbeveled edges, a base having an elongate reference margin, a cutting blade connected to the base and adapted to move in. an oblique plane past said reference margin, 21 bevel-forming pad element including a flat body slidably disposed on the base, said body having a forward margin arranged parallel to and spaced from the reference margin, and having a thickness corresponding substantially to the depth of the bevel desired, the said forward body margin being raised substantially above the plane of the base, said body margin being separated from the reference margin by a distance substantially corresponding to the width of the bevel, the pad element including an upstanding flange extended to the reference margin, a bar member detachably secured to the base and extended to said reference margin, and means for slidably moving said pad element toward the bar member that is stationary relative to said pad element, so that the flange and bar member abut and normally maintain lateral tile margins under compression when the cutting blade cuts a new edge on a tile.

2. In a bevel-forming device for cutting and re-shaping tile, a base having an elongated reference margin, a cutting blade pivotally connected to the base, said blade being adapted to move past said referenc margin in a plane inclined from the vertical, a bevel-forming pad element having a flat body slidably disposed on the base,

said body being spaced from the reference margin for a distance corresponding to the width of the bevel desired, and being of a thickness corresponding to .the depth of the bevel, the pad element includingan upstanding flange spaced from one end of the body, a'bar member detachably secured to the base, .said bar member being stationary with respect to said base, the flange and said bar member being extended substantially .to said reference margin, and means including a lever having one endportion operatively connected to the slidablepad elementand adapted to move said pad element toward the stationary bar memberso that the flange and bar member normally abut and retain lateral margins of the tile under compression upon severing anew edge.

3. In a device for cutting and reshaping the having beveled edges, a 'base having .an elongated reference margin, a cutting blade connected to the .base and arranged so as to move .in anobliqueplane pastthe reference margin, the base being provided with an elongate groove parallel to said reference margin,;a bevel-forming pad element includingaflat body-disposed onsaid .base, said .body having depending projections slidably -positionedin-said groove, and having a forward margin spaced from said reference margin a distance substantiallyequal to the width ofthe bevel desired on a newlycut tile edge, the body being .of a thickness substantially equal to the depth of the bevel, the ,pad element including an upstandingilange, a bar member detachable securedto the-base, a key element slidably located ,in said groove, saidkey ele ment having a pluralityof projections, one of said-projections being connected 'to said pad element, and means including a lever having one end portion connected to another projection of said key element, said lever .being adapted to move said pad element toward said bar memher so that the flangeand said-bar member normally abut and retain lateral margins of the tile under compression.

4. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited in claim 3, but further characterized in that the flange and bar member are extended substantially -to the reference margin, and arrangedso as to normally exert an edge-to-edge compressive force to the lateral margins of the tile in a direction perpendicularto the tile margins, when the pad element is moved toward said bar member.

5. In a device for cutting and re-forming -tile which includes beveled edges,.a base having an elongated reference margin, a cutting blade pivotally connected to the base andarranged so as to move in aplane inclined from the vertical past said reference vmargin, the base being provided with an elongate groove lying parallel to said reference margin, 1a bevel-forming pad element including .a flat body disposed on said base, guide elements dependingly carried by the body and slidably received in said groove, and an upstanding flange, the body being of a thickness substantially corresponding to the depth of the bevel desired, and being spaced from the reference margin for a distance substantially corresponding to the width of the bevel, a bar member detachably secured to the base, the bar member and flange being extended forwardly of the body to the reference margin, said bar memher being provided with an opening, a key element slidably disposed in said groove, the key element having a plurality of spaced projections, one of which operatively engages the pad element and another of which extends through the opening in the bar member, and a lever pivotally connected to the bar member, said lever having one end portion formed so as to engage the second said projection, the lever being adapted to move the pad element slidably toward the bar member so as to bring the flange and bar member into abutting relation to respective lateral tile margins, whereby to apply an edge-to-edge compressive force in a direction perpendicular to the tile margins.

6. In a tile-cutting and a bevel-forming device, a base including an elongate reference margin, a cutting blade connected to the base and movable past said reference margin in a plane inclined from the vertical, the base being provided with an elongate groove, a bevel-forming pad element including a body disposed on the base, an upstanding flange extended forwardly to the reference margin, and depending guide elements slidably received in said groove, the body being spaced from the reference margin a distance substantially equal to the width of the bevel desired on a tile being cut, and being of a thickness substantially equal to the depth of the bevel, a bar member detachably secured to the base and provided with an opening in one end portion, said bar member being extended forwardly to said reference margin, a key element slidably disposed in said groove and including a plurality of projections, one of which engages the pad element and another of which extends through the bar member opening, and an adjustable element connected to the bar member to operatively engage the last said projection, said adjustable element being adapted to maintain the flange and bar member in compressive abutting relation to respective lateral margins of the tile.

7. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited in claim 6, but further characterized in that the bar member includes an obtuse shoulder along one margin, the shoulder being extended forwardly of the pad element to the reference margin, the opening in the bar member being of a size to permit a range of slidable movement of the key element in the groove, and the cutting blade being movable in an oblique plane past the reference margin so as to press the tile margins immediately adjacent said reference margin in compressive relation to the flange and shoulder upon cutting a newly beveled edge.

8. In a tile-cutting and bevel-forming device, a base including a reference margin, a cutting blade connected to the base and movable past said reference margin, the base being provided with an elongate groove, a bevelforming pad element including a body disposed on the base, said pad element including an upstanding flange, and depending guide elements slidably received in said groove, the body being spaced from the reference margin, and being raised above the plane of said base, a bar member detachably secured to the base, a key element slidably disposed in said groove, said key element including a plurality of projections, one of which engages the pad element, and another of which is normally disposed adjacent said bar member, and an adjustable element connected to the bar member to engage operatively the last said projection, said adjustable element being adapted to maintain the flange and bar member in compressive abutting relation to respective lateral margins of the tile.

9. In a tile-cutting and bevel-forming device, a base including an elongate reference margin, a cutting blade connected to the base and movable past said reference margin, the base being provided with an elongate groove, a bevel-forming pad element including a body disposed on the base, an upstanding flange, and depending guide elements slidably received in said groove, the body being considerably spaced from the reference margin, and being raised above the plane of the base, a bar member detachably secured to the base and provided with an opening in one end portion, a key element slidably disposed in said groove and including a plurality of said projections, one of which engages the pad element, and another of which extends through the bar member opening, and an adjustable element connected to the bar member to engage operatively the last said projection, said adjustable element being adapted to maintain the flange and bar member in compressive abutting relation to respective lateral margins of the tile.

10. In a bevel-forming device for cutting and re-shaping tile, a base having an elongate reference margin, a cutting blade connected to the base, and aadpted to move in an oblique plane past said reference margin, a bevel-forming pad element slidably disposed on the base, said pad element being spaced from the reference margin, and raised above the plane of the base, the pad element. including an upstanding flange extending to the reference margin, a bar member secured to the base and extending to said reference margin, and means for slidably moving said pad element toward the bar member that is stationary relative to said pad element so that the flange and bar member abut and normally maintain lateral tile margins under compression when the cutting blade cuts a new edge on a tile.

11. The described-method of severing and rebeveling a metal tile, which consists in leaving unsupported an evenwidth portion of the tile adjacent the line of severance, while supporting the body of the tile immediately adjacent the said even-Width tile portion, directing a knife element along the line of severance so as first to deflect said even-width tile portion to form a bevel and then to sever the tile to realize a new margin, all while confining the opposite side marginal portions of the tile along said deflected even-width portion under pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 180,614 McGregor Aug. 1, 1878 1,203,842 Biggert Nov. 7, 1916 1,885,370 Minkow a- Nov. 1, 1932 2,165,614 Cook et a1 July 11, 1939 2,325,311 Ducklo July 27, 1943 2,524,344 English Oct. 3, 1950 2,573,767 Jensen et al Nov. 6, 1951 2,623,590 Johnson et al Dec. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 614,659 Germany June 14, 1935 

